Pregabalin

Pregabalin is a medication that is used to treat anxiety. It can also be used to treat neuropathic pain and some forms of epilepsy. Pregabalin is an anxiolytic medication. This means it is used to treat anxiety.

It works by stopping your brain from releasing the chemicals that make you feel anxious. It is related to the calming brain chemical gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA).

When you first start taking a medication you may experience some side effects, some of the most common side effects of pregabalin include:

• dizziness

• feeling sleepy

• headache

• increased appetite

• weight gain

• feeling very happy

• feeling confused or disorientated

• less interest in having sex, and difficulty getting an erection

• feeling irritable, odd (not like your normal self), clumsy and tired

• difficulty paying attention to things

• forgetting things

• tremor (shaking)

• speaking problems

• feeling drunk or walking in a strange way

• tingling or numb feelings

• having trouble sleeping

• blurred vision, double vision

• vertigo (feeling like things around you are moving or spinning, when they are not)

• problems with balance, which may lead to falls

• dry mouth or sore throat

• constipation (difficulty having a poo) and passing extra wind

• feeling sick and being sick

• having a bloated or swollen gut

• swelling of the body, including fingers and toes

• muscle cramps, joint pains, back pain, pain in arms and legs

An uncommon but important side effect to be aware of is thoughts of harming yourself, thinking about taking your own life or trying to take your own life. This may be symptoms of you illness, including depression, but may be a side effect of medication. If you experience these thoughts, contact your doctor to seek immediate support to keep yourself safe.

If you would like any more information about taking pregabalin, please speak to your doctor.

Please do not worry about these side effects. Some people will not get any side effects at all. If you think you are getting side effects from taking pergabaline, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it via the 'Yellow Card' system.

If you have taken more pregabalin than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medial help immediately - even if you do not feel any different.